The Land of the City of Sports on Dolobetsky Island has a significant historical connection with Kyivan Rus.

Almost a thousand years ago, the Dolobetsky Congress of Princes Volodymyr Monomakh and Sviatopolk Iziaslavych took place here. This is a confirmed historical fact. The event occurred on Dolobetskoe Lake, which is now located on Dolobetsky Island in the Hydropark.

On the territory of Dolobetsky Island, a memorial cross dedicated to the Kyiv king Oskold has been erected.

The Uniqueness of “Kachalka”

The Kachalka in the Hydropark is a unique open-air gym, one of a kind in Ukraine and Europe.

There is only one equivalent in the world — the Venice Beach Gym in the USA. However, the Kyiv Kachalka is known for its brutal and austere style. The founder of Kachalka is Yuri Kuk, the son of the last UPA general Vasyl Kuk.

About 60 years ago, he installed the first homemade pull-up bar between two trees, which has been preserved to this day. In the 1970s, together with like-minded individuals, he began creating exercise equipment from improvised materials such as rails, tractor parts, batteries, boards, and stones.

Today, Kachalka boasts over 150 pieces of equipment on an area of more than 10,000 square meters. It includes barbells, dumbbells, a boxing ring, and other equipment.

The maintenance of Kachalka is ensured by the self-organization of its visitors.

Development of Mass Sports

Since the early 2000s, the infrastructure for beach sports, mass football, street basketball, volleyball, and other disciplines has been actively developing on Dolobetsky Island.

The City of Sports’ connection with beach football and other beach sports is logical – on Dolobetsky Island lies one of the favorite urban beaches of Kyiv residents, “Venice”. An analogy is drawn with Brazil, the homeland of beach football, where the true mecca of beach soccer is Copacabana Beach in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Significant international sports events and competitions have been held in the City of Sports, including the official local fan zone for UEFA Euro 2012, the qualifying stage of the European Beach Football Championship EBSL CUP 2013, the EMF EURO 2018 mass football 6×6 championship, and the international TOURNAMENT CUP OF UKRAINIAN INDEPENDENCE 2023 in beach football.

The City of Sports is the official base for Ukraine’s national teams in beach and mass football 6×6.

Among the national teams’ achievements are the European Beach Football Cup of 2007, a silver medal at the 2015 European Championship, victory at the 2016 European Beach Football Championship, and a runner-up finish at the Socca World Cup 2023 in mass football 6×6.

Recent Achievements

In December 2021, a modern Olympic training center for beach volleyball and the SunRise academy of beach sports were opened on the territory of the City of Sports. The center includes, among other facilities, two indoor courts for beach sports and volleyball, badminton, and teqball.

The combination of fresh air, a friendly atmosphere, and the opportunity to swim at the urban “Venice” beach makes this place a favorite for many generations of Kyiv residents.

The City of Sports is an example of a successful project implemented through a combination of cooperation with state and city authorities, the involvement of socially responsible businesses, and the initiatives of sports organizations.